Word has gotten out in Central American publications that anyone who wants to drop their poverty off on America’s doorstep will be accommodated.   Those rumors were well founded.

I’m sure the Framers had this in mind when they gave Congress the power of the purse.  At a time when Americans are languishing from a stagnating economy and crushing debt, the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor-HHS passed a bill appropriating $1.9 billion in aid to fund care for the new arrivals of the illegal inundation from Central America across our southern border.

The Labor, Health and Human Services Committee unveiled a bill Tuesday which includes $1.94 billion in funding to cope with the 92 percent surge. […]

As part of the deal, the administration will be required to report back to Congress with a specific plan to deal with the surge.

Language in the bill also gives the Department of Health and Human Services additional powers to shift funds between accounts to cope with the problem.

Under the law, HHS is responsible for feeding and caring for the children after they are apprehended by border security officials. HHS bares the biggest share of costs in handling the migrants.

The Senate package should fully cover the $2.33 billion in new funding which White House deputy budget director Brian Deese asked the upper chamber for in a May 30 letter. [The Hill]

So where were the Republicans?

The deal was crafted by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) who negotiated with Harkin, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).

The bill passed out of subcommittee on a voice vote and heads to a full committee markup on Thursday. There were no audible objections.

Taking a look at the membership of the panel, it’s no surprise that there were no GOP objections.  But there is one inescapable question:

Guess who is on this subcommittee?

Thad Cochran.

Where is his voice?  Where is his zeal to stand up for Mississippi workers and taxpayers?

Were Chris McDaniel on the committee, we know exactly what he would be doing.